Scrapbook

Stampin' Up! just announced last week that they are switching print vendors in June. Because of significant price increases, they had to make the tough decision to stop carrying some items. The one that saddens me is the 5x5 hard photo cover album. That is the size that I've made for anniversary trips 1-4. It may be perfect timing for me to have to start something new, as we're breaking the annual zoo trip tradition this year.

However, that gave me less than a week to finish up album number 4 so that I could get it printed. Guess what I did all day Monday?

One of my favorite features of MDS that they have added semi-recently and I just discover really recently, is the ability to "rip" the photo edges. It gives a little extra dimension to the page with being too noticeable. You can choose which edges you want to rip, and how deep you want the rip to be. You can see that just did the right hand side of the frog picture, and the top of the information photo.

To find this great feature in MDS, right-click on your photo and choose "rip photo edges." It looks really cool on oval shapes pictures, as well. It also works on DSP that you have "added as a page layer."

Happy scrapping! Check out what our other designers created today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration.

Organized, I was not

Organization is not one of my strong suits. It is why I own two bone folders and three versamark pads. Although, having multiples of those have come in hand over the years. I've tried many different containers over the past 10 years to keep all of my Stampin' Up! stuff in order. Bookcase, dvd cabinet, rubbermaid drawer things, etc. Nothing has really helped.

Almost a year ago my husband's grandma gave me her china hutch when she moved to a smaller apartment. We have acquired much furniture and many TVs from them over the years, and I was objecting profusely to us bringing anything else in to our already overflowing house. However, his grandpa had made the china hutch, so I really didn't want to say no. I'm glad now that I agreed to take it!

What do you do with a china hutch, when you own no china? Fill it with Stampin' Up!, of course!

Two disclaimers. The first is that the cabinet usually looks much better than this, but I'm in the middle of switching out the retiring stuff with new stuff and moving things around. The second is that all of my retired stuff is scattered around almost every room of my house.

I love that I have an area that I can keep everything organized in, and that I can keep Abby out of things; provided that I put it up and remember to shut the doors.

Abby decided to photobomb.

I've really struggled with keeping my cardstock organized. Everything I tried, left it warped and my scraps usually ended up like this:

Oftentimes, the scraps would end up on the floor where Abby would find them and render them useless. That is unless people wanted teeth marks in their birthday cards!

Finally, I found something that works for me!

A giant 3-ring binder and page protectors have saved my sanity! I used a Sharpie to write the color name on the white space near the rings, so that everything is labeled.

By the way, I did this approximately two months ago. I had so much cut card stock, that I have only had to go to my cabinet twice in that time to pull out a new sheet when working on a project!

Thanks for stopping in today. I hope that you found my tip useful if organizing scraps is something you struggle with as well. I'm still looking for a good idea for my scrap DSP if you've got something you would like to share!

Memorial Day

When I think of Memorial Day, I see flag-lined cemeteries and the city band playing at the All-Veterans Memorial. That is what inspired my card for today.

I did look up the history of Memorial Day yesterday. There is lots of controversy over which town first celebrated Memorial Day. Regardless of who started it, the reason behind it was the same. To honor those that lost their lives in the Civil War. To those, and the ones who served before them and after them, thank you.

Modern Medley Designer Series Paper

$10.95

Real Red 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Labels Collection Framelits Dies

$26.95

Festive Paper-Piercing Pack

$7.95

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Shhh! It's a Secret (Garden)

Secret Garden was on of those sets that didn't really strike me in the catalog. I used my downline's during an event we held, and I was hooked! The stamp set and the coordinating framelits were on my next order!

This set is great for many different techniques. Stamping and cutting, embossing, coloring. I wanted to showcase it a little different today. It is also a great set to create your own background paper with.

The color combo of Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding was inspired by the Color Coach. The edging on the Pistachio Pudding was created with the Rotary Cutting Blade and the Tiny Scallop Blade.

If you would like some masculine inspiration for this set, you can check out one of the cards I made last July.

Make sure to grab the Secret Garden set and framelits before they are gone forever! Plus, when you click on the image below, you'll find the Secret Garden is on sale, while supplies last!

Secret Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$18.95

Secret Garden Framelits Dies

$24.95

Perfect Pennants Clear-Mount Bundle

$41.50

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Great My Paper Pumpkin Deal!

Have you heard about My Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up!? It's a monthly subscription service that delivers exclusive Stampin' Up! products straight to your mailbox! Every month is a new surprise with a new kit containing stamps you can't order anywhere else.

Stampin' Up! has listened to subscribers and made the kits bigger and better than ever. Plus, Shelli (our founder and CEO) is offering a great deal on the June kit. What do you have to lose?

To subscribe today, visit the My Paper Pumpkin site and use promo code shellideal to save 50% of June's kit! The link above should take you directly to my site, but if it prompts you for your demo's name, Darcy Johnson.

You can watch Shelli's special message here, if you'd like.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this wonderful offer. Oh, it's only valid through May 23rd; so sign up today!

Project Life Birthday

If you follow my Twitter or Facebook feeds, you may have seen that I started playing with my new Project Life by Stampin' Up! products a couple days ago. The pages that I started on are still in need of a little journaling and embellishment, so I'm not quite ready to show them off here.

Some of you might be familiar with Becky Higgins and the Project Life line. Stampin' Up! announced a month or so ago that they have partnered with Becky to offer an exclusive line of Project Life products, SU! style!

One of the coordinating card collections, accessory packs, and a few more items are available for order now. Trust me when I tell you, there are many more options coming June 2nd, and I can't wait to get my hands on them!

As I don't take many pictures, I know I'll never use all of the cards that come in all of the packs I want to order. So...I will use them on cards!

This quick and easy card uses a Melon Mambo cardstock base, with two of the cards from the Everyday Adventure Project Life Card Collection. I stamped the 'happy, happy birthday' in Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay ink. Do those stamps look familiar? They are from the Endless Birthday Wishes I featured yesterday!

Project Life. It's for more than just scrapbooking!

Everyday Adventure Project Life Card Collection

$15.95

Endless Birthday Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set

$13.95

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Endless Birthday Fun!

I know I should be playing more with the retiring items, since they aren't going to be around much longer. However, I'm just too excited about the new stuff that Stampin' Up is releasing that I've got to play with the new!

I know I keep teasing you with the new products that are being released June 2nd. Guess what? The stamp set that I used today can be purchased NOW! It's a brand new photopolymer set they released last week; and yes, I ordered it the day it came out!

Adorable, right? I fell in love with the fonts even more as I was stamping with it.

The cakes were stamped with the new Momento Ink pad that I recommend you use with the Blendabilities. The cake stands were colored with the Basic Grey marker; while the cakes were colored with all three shades of the Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities. I added a little Dazzling Details to the candles to make them shine.

The words were all stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink. The card base is one of the new 2014-2016 In Colors called Tangelo Twist. The circle is the new Hello Honey cardstock. The layer behind the focal point is my "old" favorite, Coastal Cabana.

If you look really close, you might notice that the Dazzling Details is still wet in this picture. I was humming along, happy with what I was making, that I didn't think about drying time. Then I was stuck with, "how am I going to assemble this?" I built my card from the bottom up! It's just as possible to put the SNAIL on the bottom layer and place the top down on it, as it is to adhesive up the back of the top layer! (Yes, I did just take creative license to use adhesive as a verb!)

I highly recommend purchasing Endless Birthday Wishes as soon as possible if you love it. These monthly photopolymer sets that are released are only while supplies last. This set is very similar to Endless Wishes that was released last fall; and it sold out very quickly. I anticipate this one will as well.

Endless Birthday Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set

$13.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition

$12.95

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May Layout Challenge

This is the Layout Challenge for May at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration. My first thought when I saw it was, "oh, what pictures will I use?" I started filtering through my pictures from our last anniversary trip. (Yes, I'm still working on that album. Yes, our anniversary is in less than a month.) I found the perfect pictures to use on this layout!

Now, I'm really hoping that you're going to tell me that we're not the only goofy couple out there that takes pictures of each other. I'm fairly certain that I have shots like this of us from every year.

The digital DSP is from the Watercolor Wonder download. All of the stamp images are from On Film Kit. I tried to do an ombre with the camera images. The top one is Smoky Slate, middle is Going Gray, bottom is Basic Gray. The Smoky and Going don't appear to have that much difference when spaced that far apart on a page.

I hope you enjoyed my take on the layout. Stop over at SSInk to see the cute ways the other designers were INKspired by this challenge. You can link your own INKspired post up over there as well!

On Film Kit - Digital Download

$7.95

Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper - Digital Download

$4.95

Mds Download - Digital Download

$19.95

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Hit Me With Your Best Punch

It's that time again! The monthly Stylin' Stampin' Blog Hop! I think this month's theme was tailor-made for me; I love...PUNCHES. My card today features three and a half punches, along with more sneak peeks of some upcoming products!

As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 1 on the Stylin' Stampin' Squad Blog Hop - Pam S of Stampin' In the Sun. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

Are you tired of reading yet? Do you want to see the card? Ok, I'll quit teasing you.

Believe it or not, I actually pre-ordered quite a bit of product, yet I featured two of the same new products two days in a row. It's because they are awesome! This picture does not do the Blackberry Bliss cardstock or ink justice, but believe me; it is gorgeous. (and goes really well with Crisp Cantaloupe) Also, there is the Hello Honey ribbon making another appearance.

Did you see my post yesterday that really featured the Blendabilities? Well, I used them again today. I found that they will work to color your stamp like the regular markers do. I have to interject a story here. Growing up I had a book about a town that had no color. Someone planted some seeds, and anyone who touched the flowers that grew from them turned color(s). I think the girl's name was Calico Callie, and I remember Mayor Caruthers. If anyone can tell me the title of the book, I'll send you a little Stampin' Up! goodie! It's been driving me crazy! At any rate, when I got the Flower Shop stamp set, this particular flower has always reminded me of that book because of the different patterns on the petals. I did try coloring the petals different colors with the Blendabilities and because of the added time of switching markers, the part that I colored first was dry and wouldn't stamp. The part that I really like is that since the Blendabilities come with three markers in the pack, each a lighter shade of the color, you have some hue flexibility. The flower on the right is Rich Razzleberry!
You might also notice the Coastal Cabana buttons. Those started as clear. Yes, I colored them with the Blendabilities!

Should we get to the punches since that's what this post is really about? Have you figured out the three and a half punches? Scallop Tag Topper, Artisan Label, and 7/8" Scallop Circle. Plus, the corner rounder on the Envelope Punch Board! If you use the Artisan Label with any of the word images from Label Love, the scallops actually go at the top and bottom. I've always used it like that, no matter what project I used it on. Then today it hit me; "hey, I should turn them sideways!" I really like them that way too!

Thanks for joining us today! I'd love to hear what you're favorite part of this card is, since I have many elements. After you pin it, and comment, keep hopping by clicking that Next button below to visit Cynthia, who might just be a fan of coffee, chocolate, and coffee flavored chocolate! ;)

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun
2. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
3. Cynthia R. of Ink-A-Doodle Creations
4. Jamie H. of Unique Ink
5. Shellie G. of Craft Smashup
6. Donna S. of Organized Chaos
7. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
8. Bree R. of Craft-Somnia
9. Diana E. of Stampin' Fun with Diana
10. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim 

7/8" Scallop Circle Punch

$12.95

Artisan Label Punch

$15.95

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

$22.95

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More New Products!

What is THE most fabulous thing about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? Well there are many, but this time of year it is getting to play with brand new products before they are released to the general public. *insert big goofy, inky grin here*

How many new products do you spy on here? Here's a hint: the only currently available products are the Whisper White cardstock and the Another Thank You stamp set. I learned after I finished making the card, that Another Thank You is currently sold out, but never fear; it will be available again with the release of the new catalog!

The flower is a new single stamp called Blended Bloom. The card base, DSP and ribbon all feature some brand new 2014-2016 In Colors! (Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, and Hello Honey) The DSP is from a new stack called Moonlight. Let me tell you, every pattern is YUMMY.

*drum roll* The flower is colored with the brand spankin new Blendabilities markers! I'll write a post later detailing how they work, but let me tell you that once you try them; you will buy them in ever available color. (which I might have already done!)

Thanks for stopping in to check out these new products in action! See ya tomorrow for the monthly blog hop, which may just be featuring punches!

Slider Technique

The card I have for you today pushed me outside of my comfort zone a little bit. I had made a penny slider card several years ago to teach at a class, but I had never tried any other slider cards. Our design team challenge at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration today was to create a pull tab slider card. I read this tutorial and watched the video, but was still a little intimidated. Plus, they used some products that Stampin' Up! doesn't sell, so I edited it to make it my own and use products that I do have. You can view the tutorial using SU! products at SSINK today.

Here is my final card:

And here it is after the butterflies "flew" across the card:

I used the new Work of Art set for the bottom of the card. All of the green on this card is Wild Wasabi; however the shaded part at the bottom was stamped off once before stamping it on the card. The flowers are from Happy Watercolor, which is available in the Occasions catalog; and only available through May 31st. The small butterflies were punched out of some soon to be retired Designer Series Paper, and the big butterflies were stamped with Papillion Potpourri and then fussy cut with my paper snips.

As I was coloring my flowers with the Stampin' Write Markers, I kept wishing I had my Blendabilities. However, they are not arriving until this afternoon. Keep an eye out for an upcoming post when I compare the two!

Be sure to visit Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration for the tutorial and to see a fire truck moveable card as well!

May Colors

This is the last Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration color challenge you'll see with Midnight Muse or Summer Starfruit. I'm sad to see them go; but tomorrow my new 2014-2016 In Colors arrive for me to play with. I think I'll survive the heartache!

I created this color challenge combination for fellow DT member Donna. I'll admit, these colors together stretched me a bit. Of course every time one of the other DT members says the same thing to me about one of my color combos, I respond, "isn't that the point of these challenges?"

This was one of those cards that didn't end up anything like it started out. I actually had a dream about a card layout last night, and thought I'd use it on this one. It didn't work out for today, but I'm keeping it in the vault for another day.

I grabbed my three ink pads, and Secret Garden. I'm so sad that it's retiring, I have to use it as much as possible this month! I cut a 2 inch square of Crumb Cake and stamped my flower. I knew I was going to mat that piece, and opted for the Midnight Muse. After that I was at a loss and went to my stamp cupboard for inspiration. I figured flowers go with flowers, so I picked up Petite Petals. I was actually impressed with how well the Summer Starfruit ink showed up on the Crumb Cake cardstock.

I had intended to use a greeting on the front, but when I started laying out my card. I felt that it would be too much and throw the balance of the card off wherever I decided to use it. This layout reminds me of a wall hanging with the picture in the middle flanked by sconces. (Can anyone say "every wall in every home in the late 90s?") By the way, the sconce pieces of Crumb Cake are 1 inch by 3 inches.

I had quite an internal debate about using Midnight Muse or Crumb Cake for the base. I assembled the entire layer and then kept moving it back and forth between the card bases to decide. Abby refused to wake up from her sunny nap and offer her input. I suppose I'm glad for that, her input usually involves eating some part of my supplies. The Crumb Cake base finally won out because I felt that it made the Midnight Muse mats pop a little more. Speaking of pop, the center flower is lifted off the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Since I had already brought over Label Love, I decided that I would stamp it on the inside.

As with all of our color challenges, there is a linky tool at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration for you to link up your own creations using our latest Color Challenge!

Secret Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$18.95

Petite Petals

$15.95

Label Love Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$17.95

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Old & New for Mom

Happy May Day! It's also happy pre-order day if you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! I went to the catalog premiere Monday night and received my copy of the brand new catalog that starts June 2nd, and also a brand new set from that catalog for FREE!

I couldn't wait to get home and ink it up. There are so many cute ideas with this set, I can't wait to get them all on paper! In the meantime, here is the first card I made with it; one for my mom.

I've mentioned before that my mom's favorite color is green. I have a tendency to go overboard on green gifts for her; but at least I know she'll like them!

For this card I used Pear Pizzazz, Gumball Green, and Whisper White. The Gumball Green is leaving us, but let me tell you, there are some YUMMY colors for the 2014-2016 In Colors!

The flower is from Secret Garden, which is also leaving us as part of the retirement list. All of the other stamps used on this card are from Work of Art, the new set I received. I used the Stamp-A-Majig to line up the "splashes." I inked up my stamp with Pear Pizzazz and stamped off once on a piece of scrap paper so that it provided a little lighter background.

I ordered the Rotary Arm for our Paper Trimmer a month or so ago, but just took it out of the box today. Two observations: why did I wait so long to order it, and why didn't I use it the minute it arrived? I love it! It, along with the scallop blade is how I created the decorative top and bottom of my top layer! I highly recommend it. It's easy to use, looks cute, and is fun to play with!

Would you like some more inspiration for Mother's Day? Head over to Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration!

Secret Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$18.95

Subtles Candy Dots

$5.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$29.95

Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition

$12.95

Small Scallop Stampin’ Trimmer Rotary Cutting Blade

$3.95

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

$11.95

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